Question

What conflicts do Elizabeth and John proctor struggle with in their relationship?

Answer 1

1) Well, one thing you'd have to mention was that John Proctor cheated on Elizabeth Proctor with Elizabeth. That drives a very sharp knife through their relationship; being cheated on is humiliating, and throughout the duration of the Salem Witch Trials, you can see John Proctor struggling to deal with the consequences of his actions and trying to fix all the holes he created in his relationship with his wife.

2) Throughout the book, you can also see that the air between John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor is very tense and stiff. They don't have the healthy amount of connection and communication that married couples need to have to get through marriage. They absolutely lack communication and instead only focus on their respective tasks; they don't lean on eachother at all.